Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has pledged to govern like Labor predecessor Bob Hawke, should he win the May election, while also vowing to tackle cost of living issues.
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Mr Albanese told the Australian Financial Review business summit on Wednesday after nearly a decade of division and policy inertia under the coalition, he wanted to rediscover the spirit of consensus shown by Mr Hawke and his successor Paul Keating.
Mr Hawke used to bring together governments, trade unions, businesses and civil society around their shared aims of growth and job creation, the federal Labor leader said.
"The result was three decades of continuous economic growth," Mr Albanese told the summit.
"(Hawke) brokered reforms that yielded benefits for all parties - not just better wages for workers, but stronger profits for businesses."
The Labor leader also drew on a line used by former Liberal prime minister John Howard, that in the race for economic reform, you never reach the finish line.
"I agree. It's always a race - the race for improvement. But the current Liberal government has abandoned the field," Mr Albanese said.
"The team leader has left the track. He is over in the grandstand looking for photo opportunities."
Mr Albanese said cost of living would be a key priority of a Labor government, should the opposition win the election.
He told Melbourne radio station 3AW he wouldn't rule out cutting the fuel excise, as petrol prices continue to rise.
"Everything in terms of making a difference to people's pressures on their living standards will be given proper consideration," Mr Albanese said.
"They'll be given proper consideration, given the fiscal position as well. What we won't be doing is just making on the run comments that make a big difference to revenue."
Shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers said the upcoming election would be about the economy along with a skills shortage against the backdrop of flood recovery in Queensland and NSW.
"The floods will cost the economy and the budget billions of dollars and the war in Ukraine is pushing up energy prices and inflation, putting pressure on food security and making investors very jumpy," he said.
"I don't think Scott Morrison understands how isolated and abandoned people feel in flood affected communities or the cost to local businesses, our economy and our society of his failures to invest in natural disaster readiness and mitigation."
Dr Chalmers said his first priorities as treasurer should Labor win the election were to rebuild flood-affected areas and lock in the economic recovery.
Australian Associated Press
